Packer for casing heads



Feb. 16, 1932. 1 F. BAASH ET AL.

PACKER FOR CASING HEADS Filed June 23, 1930 ufff 6150761455. 4P/PA P27 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 muren STTesl LAWRENCE F. BAAsH, or Los ANGELES, AND ERWIN BURNS ANDGEonGE B. GARRARD;

gPMENT o1-FICE OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA PAcirEn Fon CAsrNe.Y 1HEADS Appncation mea ruhe 23,

This invention relates to a packingy device, and relates more particularly Yto a packer or packing assembly forv use in a well casing head operable to prevent a well from-blowing out through the casing.

lt is a generalobj ect of the present invention to provide a simple, practical, and eli`e0- tive packer or packing device for use in a well casingA head to rpackaround a drill pipe, or

the like, extending through the head. n x

It is another object .of the present invention to provide apacker for avcasing'head that may be easily and quickly arranged in operating position in a casing head around a drill pipe, or the like, without disturbing l It is another object ot the present invention to provide a casing head packer of the character mentioned that .embodies an eX- pansible and compressible packing ringto seal with the casing headand to pack around a drill pipe, or the like, extending through the casing head, and which embodies novel and improved means for expanding the, compressible sealingv ring into effective sealing ngagement with the casing head andthe pipe. f

Another object ot this inventionis to prof vide packing assembly or `packer .of the character mentioned that is sectional, or formed of units and toV provide etlective means for latching the sections or units Vtogether around a drill pipe, or the like.Y

lt is a further object of this inventionto`V provide a casing head packer of the character mentioned that embodies vtwo split collars,

1930. serial No. 463,218.

anda split expansible packing ring between the collars, that `are held together vor assembled by theineans referredto above for expanding the packing ring.

Other` objects and features of our invention will be best and more fully understoodfrom the following detailed description ot a typi-- cal form and application of the invention, throughout. which description reference isr Ihad tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.` l isa vertical detailed sectional View vis a reduced transverse detailed sectionalview takenasl indicatedby line 3-#3 on Fig. 2. Fig.: l is a reduced transverse detailed sectional viewtaken as indicated by line l--l tailed sectional 4.view taken asindicated by Yline 5.-.5 on Fig. 2. Fig. Gis a reduced bottom view of the packer, being ay view taken as indicated by line `6-,-6 on Fig. 2,andA Fig.

7 vis alongitudinalr side elevation view of the packer showing kthe two sections separated and the locking meansl about tok be united.

' Thepacker or packing assembly provided by the .present invention is pfktrticularly `adapted for use in comparatively large packing glands, or theilike, for example, it is well i suited foruse in a casingheadat the upper fonFig. 2. Fig. 5 isa reduced transversedeend ot' awell casing to Aprevent the well from y .blowing out through the casing. The inventicnis adapted to be embodied in packers for use in various types of well casing heads, or the like.

Throughout` the viv'ollowing dis-A ,K closure we will describe the invention as em` nec'tion with the particular type of casing head illustrated in the drawings but that it is to be taken as including any features or modifications that may fall within theV scopey ,and for carrying a packing device for packing E the upper end of the well casing. rEhe ybody ot the head may be connected with v the well casing in any suitable manner. In the particular case illustrated, `the lower portion ot the body 10 is both externally vand internally screw threaded 'for connection with a suitable cou lin or the like .at the u er.

end of a well casing. The upper portion 12 of the opening -11 is intended to vcarry the packer for packing around the drill pipe P or thelike, and is enlarged and has axial or cylindrical walls. A convergent or inwardly tapered portion 13 is provided at the lower end oit the enlarged part 12 of the opening to support the packing device in the head.

l The casing head H may be provided with means for compressing or actuating a packer or packing device arranged in the enlarged opening` l12. The type ot casing head illustrated in the drawings and more particularly the packing actuating means illustrated in connection with the casing head, is setforth lin Patent No. 1,589,236, issued to M. S. Black,

May'26, 1925. V.The particular type of casing `heard H illustrated in the drawings is provided with a clamping sleeve 1dA at its upper end adapted to compress a packing device *arrangedr in the opening 12. The sleeve 14 may have Van inwardly extending flange 15 to Aengage the upper end of a split or sectional ring 17a. The ring 1"(a is adapted to .be assembled or arranged in the head on the upper end of the packing. The ring` 17a has an opening 16 for passing the drillpipe P, or the like.y The opening 16 is sufficiently large to passa drill pipe coupling C to permit the coupling to engage the upper end of the packer arranged in the head as will be hereinaiter described. Openings may be provided thrcugh'the walls oi the casing head El to receive fluid discharge conduits 17.

yEhe packer provided by the present invention vis adapted to be arranged in the opening 12vto pack ott around the drill pipe Pand includes, generally, an upper split collar 18,

a lower split collar 19, a split annular'oody of packing 2O arranged between the collars 18 and 19, means 21 for expanding the packing 2O into sealing engagement with the pipe .P and the wallso the opening 12 and tor holding the sections of the collars 18 and` 19 and the packing 2O together to torni two assemblies or units A and B, and means 22 Vtor releasably latching the units A and B toent invention is a laminated annular strncture or assembly adaptedto operate in the opening 12 of the casing head H to pack oft" the upper end of a well casing. The collars 18 and 19 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the expansible packing and slidably fit the opening 12. The collars 18 and 19 are provided to take or receive the wear and to carry the packing 20. rihe lower collar 19 is provided with a tapered exterior 23 to lit in the convergent portion 18 of the casing head to support the packer in the head. Socketsr or recesses 24 may be provided in the lower side of the collar 19 to lighten the construction. The upper side ci the upper collar 18'is preferably made flat to receive the flange 15 of the clamping sleeve or like device, and to receive the lower end or" a coupling C, or the like. Screw threaded openings 25 may he provided in the upper side of the collar 18 to rece've suitable tools or devices for handling the units A and B of the packer. The collars 18and 19 arel gitudinally split at diametrically opposite points andare arranged so that their lines oi"- division are in vertical or longitudinal alignl ment.

TheY packing 2O is in the nature otra split annular body of compressibleV and expansible material arranged between the collars 18 and 19. The packing 20 may be formed of rubber, rubber composition, or any other suitable expansible packing material. The body ot packing 20 is longitudinally splitat diametrically opposite points and is arranged so that its lines of division are in vertical align- I1 ment with the ends of the sections of the split collars 18 and 19. rllhe packing ring 2O is proportional to slidably lit the opening 12 of the casing head to normally freely pass the drill pipe l). Y l

The means4 21 operates to connect the sections ot the split collars 18 and 19 and the split packing ring 20to form two unitary semblies or units A and 4B andris such that it operates to effectively expand the packing 2O both radially inward to pack against ne pipe P and radially outward to seal up the walls'ot the opening 12 upon a compression strain being put on the packer. Further, the

means 21 operates to expand the end portions to the packing 2O without the use of screws,

bolts,- or like securing or assembling par The means 21 is integral with the collars and 19 and includes projections 30 on t collars iitting recesses or J. eS;

1 i8 he i Grooves 31 in t-ie LBO ica

lili

packing 20. A downwardly extending projection is provided on the lower side of each section of the collar 18 and an upwardly extending projection 30.4is provided onthel this manner7 act as wedges to expand theV packing 2O radially outward in opposite directions upon compression of the packing. Enlargements or heads 33 are provided at the outer ends of the projections 30. The heads 33 are pointed or have outwardly convergent sides to effectively spread the packing. The heads 33 present :substantially horizontal shoulders 36 at oppositev sides of the projections `30. The ends 37 of the projections 30 are beveled'ior tapered outwardly from the diametric -lin'es of division of the units A and B so that compression ofthe packing `2O forces theend portions of the sections of the packing into tight'compressive engagement. l

The grooves 31 are shaped to conform to the configuration of the projections and heads 33 and areproportioned so that the projections may be slidably forced into the recess whenthe packer is assembled.,k The projections 33 fit tightly into the grooves 30 f` and the shoulders 36 preventdispl'acement of the projections from thegrooves. The projections 30 and grooves 31 are related` so that the upper and lower' sides ofthe packing ring 2O are normally spaced fromA the col' lars18 and 19.` The grooves 3 1 are providedk with Yinwardly extending: reduced portions 38 at or beyond the ends ofthe heads 33-to permit inward movementk of the heads 33 without danger of fracturing or cracking 1 the packing. Upona compressionstring be'- Aing put on the packer either through the sleeve 14 or` like device, for through the weight of the'v string ofv pipe P -being` put on the packer, the projections 30 of the upper vcollars 18 areforced downwardly inthe grooves 31 and the packing 2()k is forced downwardly on the upwardly extending projcctions 30 of the lowerjring 19 so that the packing is expanded radially inward bythe projections 30 againstthe pipe P and radially outward against the walls of the opening 12. j

Compression of the packing 2O canseslthe tapered ends V37 of the projections*l to ycompress the end portions of thevsections of packing together toprovide an eifectiveiseal y between the sections of thepacking. f

' The means 22 for latchingthe assembly 01 unitsAand B together around the pipeP-is such that the units A an'dlB 4may. be quickly and easily arranged lin" operative, position aroundthe drill pipe-before being lowered into-the casing head H. The-means 22 is preferably inthe form 'cfa latch-"means and is preferably integral with the collars 18 `and 19. In the form of the inventionillustrated in the'drawings, the means 22 includes latch projections 40 on the unit Ato cooperate with latch catches or lugs `41qon the collar ofthe unit B.V The latch projections 40 project from the opposite' ends'of the sections of they -collars 18 and 19 of the unit A. The latch projections 40 are providedwith pointed or-convergent ends having tapered faces 42 terminating in vertical shoulders 43. *The lugs 41 are provided at the inner sides or bottoms of the recesses 44 in thev end portions of the sections of .the collars 18 and 19 of the units B. The lugs 41 are provided with tapered faces46 to receive or cooperate with thevtapered faces L42 of the projections 40 and have shoulders ,47 to cooperate with the shoulders 43. The projections 40 and the lugs 41 are proportioned and related so that the units A and B may be forcibly sprung together to cause the beveled faces 42 of the projectionsto ride' overY the tapered faces 46 of thel lugs so that the shoulders 43` and 47V arebrought into cooperative` engagement, In practice the latch projections 40 of the lower collar 19 may be arranged in Lcooperative engagement with the lugs 41 of the lower 'collarsV and the unitsA and B swung together to `force the projections .40 and the lugs 41 of the'upper collar 19 into cooperative position. lWhen thevunits A and Bare arranged together to latch the-'means 22, the packing '2O of the unit A is stretched orelongated` longitudinally and the packing 20 of the unit `Bis compressed'to allow the shoulders 43 Vand 47l`to come into' cooperative engagement. yThe vinherent resilience of the packing 2O releasably retains the latch projections 40 in 'cooperative engagement with the lugs 41.

l '/The packing-20 yieldingly holds the c ol lars 18 and-"19 spacedlapar't in a position lwherethe latch projections 40 are `positively heldin latching engagement with the lugs141. Theprojections40 may be released from (the lugs only by kacting on the packingl 20. When a'heavy blow is imparted tothe outer edge of either of the collar sectionstk of the unit A the outer portion of the packing20 of the unit A s compressed and the inner portions of the packing 2O is stretchedv Vand .the latch prov jections of that collary section are movedy verL tically and released from theV lugs. The latch means may be releasedby compressing the packing 20 of the unit Btc shift the lugs sembled around a pipeP or lthe like in the manner described above and lowered into the opening 12 of the casingl head. The beveled exterior 23 ofthe lowerrcollar 19 rests against the convergent portion 13 of opening 12 to Y expand the support the packer in the head. TWhen it isy be employed to compress the packing by permitting the coupling C to support the weight o f the drill pipe on the collar 18. A compression strain put on the packer in any manner causes the projections 30 to be forced. into the packing 2() to expand the packing radially in opposite directions as well as circumferentially to tightly seal with the walls of the opening 12 andthe pipe I.

The packing assembly provided by the present invention is particularly easy-to arrange in operative position in the casing head, or the like, and embodies but few simple parts. The units A and B may be disconnected or separated by imparting a .blow to yeither the section oi the collar 18 or section of the collar 19 of the unit A to permit` the latch projections 410 to spread out of engagement with the lugs 41. In practice the packer may be dropped so that a blowv is .struck on a corner of the section of the lower collar 19 of the unit A to compress the outer portion of the packing 2O of the unit A to allow the latch projections to spring out of engagement with the lugs.v The projections 30 operate to retain the collars 11S/and 19-a`nd the packing 20 assembled as well as to effectively packing upon compressionl of' the packer. y

I-Iaving described only a typical preferred form of our invention, we do notwish to limit ourselves to the specic details-set forth, but -wish to reserve to ourselves any Ichanges or variations that may appear tov those skilled in the art or fall within'the scope of the i`ollowing claims. Y Y

l Having described our invention, we claim :v 1. A packingdevice of the character described including expansible packing, collars atfthe ends of the. packing, and means for expanding the packing and for holding the packing and collars assembled including iwedgeparts. on the collars extending 'into the packing, and enlargements on the wedge parts.

2. A packing device of the character described including, a collanexpansible packingnneans for expanding the packing including a part on Ythe collar having a tapering side and extending into the packing, and a projection on the said part holding the colla-r and packing assembled together.

3. A packing device of the character described including, expansible resilient packing, collars at opposite ends of the packing, means v:for vexpanding the packing radially including parts on the collars having longitudinally tapered sides and extending into the packing, and means for holding the packing and collars assembled including lateral projections on the said parts. Y

4. An annular packing assembly including collars, and resilient packing between the cellars, vthe assembly being longitudinally split into separable units, and means for releasably holding the units together through the resiliency of the packing.

` 5. An annular packing assembly including collars, and resilient packing between the' collars, the assembly being longitudinally split into separable units, and means for re- -leasably holding the units together, including a lug on one unit, and a latch projection on the other unit, the latch and lug being releasably held in cooperative engagement by the resiliency of the packing.

6. A substantially annular packing assembly including collars,vand yieldable resilient packing between the collars, the assembly being longitudinally split into separable units and means forfreleasably holding the units together'including cooperating parts on the collars, the packing yieldingly holding the collars spaced apart in a position where the parts are in cooperative engagement.

7 A packing device including a yieldable resilient packing ring, collarsat the opposite ends of the packing ring, the assembly of the Vcollars and ring being longitudinally split into separable unit-s, and means for releasably holding the units together including a lug on a section of a collar lof one unit, and a projection on a section of a collar of the other Aunit cooperating with the lug, the lug and projection being releasable by acting on the packin'.

8. A packing device including a packing f ring, collars Vat the ends of the ring, and means `for expanding the packing radially upon a compression Strain-being put on the deviceincluding a-wedge projection on a collar extending into the packing, the assembly oi' the packing ring and collarsbeing longitudinally divided into separable sections, the end of the Wedge projection being adjacent a line of division of the assembly and being tapered to cause circumferentialy expansion of the packing. 4

9. A packing device including a yieldable resilient packing ring, collars at the ends ot the ring, means Jfor expanding the packing including a wedge part extending into the packing, the assembly of the packing ring and the collars being longitudinally divided into separable units, and means for releaS-'- 1 ably holding thel units together including cooperating parts on the collars adjacent a line of division of a collar releasably held in Cooperative engagement through the Yresiliency of the packing ring. f

In Witness that We Claim the foregoing We have hereunto subscribed our names this 16th day of June, 1930.

LAWRENCE F. BAASH-J ERWIN BURNS. i GEORGE B. GARRARD. 

